NOBODY can deny the correctness of this observation about the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leaders. A few years after the AAP rode to power on the wings of the image of its incorruptibility, the party now stands much discredited, thanks to its own doings, thanks to its own people’s corrupt actions that have landed them in gaol. What a fall this has been! What was once billed as a unique experiment in national politics has now got reduced to a party that has no respect for moral code. And the best part is that even if two of its ministers are in prison on corruption charges and its Chief Minister is in the dock on similar charges, its spokespersons keep insisting that all of them are kattar imandar -- diehard honest! Chief Minister Mr. Arvind Kejriwal used this term for the first time for his colleagues when they were called for initial interrogation by investigating agencies. And then everybody started using the term either positively or negatively. No matter on what side of the divide somebody may be, the use of kattar imandar is rampant while talking about the decline of the prestige of AAP. Gone totally is its glamour of the yore. It is important to note that the country -- as well as the world -- watched the growth of the Aam Aadmi Party in Indian politics. It adopted novel postures, followed novel ways of projection, implemented novel ideas in garnering public support -- such as corner meetings to call for names of the candidates for elections in every locality. The common people felt mesmerised by that novelty that none had seen in Indian politics.

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership of movements such as India Against Corruption, his impression as a public servant, his appeal to young people, his appeal to non-resident Indians as well as the blessings he got from a saintly man such an Mr. Anna Hazare lent him an iconic status. There were countless people in the country who even thought of Mr. Kejriwal as a future Prime Minister. What made him all the more popular was his approach to handling of political power -- no official residence, no official car, no security, no frills or power, no airs ...! But all that changed far more quickly than anyone could imagine. Mr. Kejriwal moved to official residence, started using official cars, heavy security. And now has come the allegations that he has abused his power to construct for himself a massive official residence at the cost of Rs. 45 crore.

Of course, Mr. Kejriwal has denied all the charges. But unfortunately, nobody appears to take him seriously on the issue. Everybody tends to believe that Mr. Kejriwal has indulged in corrupt practices. The people also believe that his to ministerial colleagues in prison too are guilty of wrong practices. In short, the kind of beating the AAP’s image has taken is unprecedented in Indian politics. There are many other serious issues that dog Mr. Kejriwal’s image as a Mr. Clean in politics, the most important among those being the reprimand by his guru Mr. Anna Hazare -- that Mr. Kejriwal has cheated on him by indulging in all sorts of suspect practices.

This is the worst slap on Mr. Kejriwal’s face, so to say. If a man of the eminence of Mr. Anna Hazare disowns him, then Mr. Kejriwal has no foundation to stand on in the so-called fight against corruption. Many of Mr. Kejriwal’s colleagues in politics, like poet Mr. Kumar Vishwas, have moved away from the man and his AAP because of the authoritarian approach to leadership he has. Considering all these, the larger picture of the AAP is that of a party like any other party -- or even worse. In the past some time, all the claims of having done superbly well in education and health sectors in Delhi have been busted by facts that are very damning, to say the least. It has been found that Mr. Kejriwal indulged in publicity hype for himself and his party and Delhi Government without actually having done anything special. The kind of Government funds used by Mr. Kejriwal to build a massive publicity campaign also has come in for massive criticism from all quarters.

Some of the criticism of Mr. Kejriwal’s methods may have a political tinge, but much of it has been found to be based on solid evidence and truth -- and Mr. Kejriwal has not been able to deny those damming realities of his own wrong-doings. The picture, thus, is dirtier than many may think it to be. Mr. Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party have proved to be a massive let down of the people who initially placed such a faith in his thought and action. He is a ‘god’ that has failed.